Join the Independent Film Alliance (IFA) Chicago in a special edition of In Focus With…, featuring IFA Member and Breakthrough Voice Award winner Minhal Baig and a screening of her film We Grown Now at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Q&A to follow.
Baig grew up in Rogers Park and attended Chicago Public Schools, graduating from Northside College Prep. Her critically acclaimed We Grown Now, centers on two boys, best friends living in Cabrini Green. The Hollywood Reporter said in its review that Baig’s film is “A film that takes the idea of beauty seriously and works, with deceptive ease, to show us the tiny pleasures that make up life in Cabrini-Green.”
The film is set in Chicago in 1992 as Michael Jordan has solidified himself as a champion, and wide-eyed and imaginative best friends Malik (Blake Cameron James) and Eric (Gian Knight Ramirez) traverse the city, looking to escape the mundaneness of school and the hardships of growing up in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. Their unbreakable bond is challenged when tragedy shakes their community.
Directed by Chicago filmmaker Minhal Baig, the Chicago Tribune’s 2023 Film Person of the year, and hailed by critic Robert Daniels as “an unassuming character study set to poetic rhythms that makes for an empathetic study of Black life, full of resolve,” We Grown Now is a delicate portrait of coming-of-age.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 North State StreetChicago
In Focus With
Formerly Executive Talks, the program holds a series of intimate conversations with nationally-known, independent filmmakers, producers, and entrepreneurs. Designed to cultivate knowledge, transparency, and insight into the business and entrepreneurial nature of filmmaking. Followed by a local Producer’s Meet Up and networking hour. Open to the public and free for members.
Previous guests have included Academy-Award nominees Peter Saraf and Diane Quon, director/writer/producer George Tillman Jr., writer/director Sam Bailey, television director Daniel Willis, director Kris Rey, and others.
IFA Chicago is a non-profit organization that provides the community, resources, and programs needed to build a diverse and sustainable industry of independent content creators here in Chicago. Learn more at HERE.
We Grown Now Awards & Nominations
Winner – City & State Award, Chicago International Film Festival
Winner – Audience Choice Award, Chicago International Film Festival
Winner – Shawn Mendes Foundation Changemaker Award, Toronto International Film Festival
Nominee – Best Feature, Film Independent Spirit Awards
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